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Does anybody know what criteria you must meet in order to qualify for medical benefits as a veteran? In particular, I'm looking for help with a Vietnam veteran...served 4 years, currently has private medical insurance but it will probably not cover all the medical expenses that he has and some of the referrals now are out of network. Does he qualify for any type of medical assistance through his veteran status?

I would think so. He has medical insurance, so he never really bothered with it. But he really should be receiving disability for the illness. He finally put in a claim a couple of weeks ago, but I'm sure that will take time. I'm looking into Veterans Benefits to handle potential co-pays because the referred docs may be out of network for his primary insurance and the treatment is probably going to be pretty expensive.

Does anybody know what criteria you must meet in order to qualify for medical benefits as a veteran? In particular, I'm looking for help with a Vietnam veteran...served 4 years, currently has private medical insurance but it will probably not cover all the medical expenses that he has and some of the referrals now are out of network. Does he qualify for any type of medical assistance through his veteran status?

Tri-care is for current military and dependents. As a Vietnam vet, he is entitled to VA benefits. If he has his DD-214, that should be all the documentation that he needs. Here is the page to apply for health benefits: https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/

Tri-care is for current military and dependents. As a Vietnam vet, he is entitled to VA benefits. If he has his DD-214, that should be all the documentation that he needs. Here is the page to apply for health benefits: https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/

Thanks. I had downloaded that. I'm not certain of the terminology of "retired military" versus veteran, but I eventually got to that page.

Thanks. I had downloaded that. I'm not certain of the terminology of "retired military" versus veteran, but I eventually got to that page.

Retired is the 20+ years, or those who were "medically retired". If they voluntarily seperated before that 20 year point, then they most likely will not be entitled to use Tricare. But they will have access to the VA.

In most sports, cold-cocking an opposing player repeatedly in the face with a series of gigantic Slovakian uppercuts would get you a multi-game suspension without pay.

In hockey, it means you have to sit in the penalty box for five minutes.

Retired is the 20+ years, or those who were "medically retired". If they voluntarily seperated before that 20 year point, then they most likely will not be entitled to use Tricare. But they will have access to the VA.

Thanks. It really is confusing to me, and probably there won't be time for any of this to actually kick in, but I thought I'd give it a try anyway.